Abstract:
A dichotomous key and description of five pitcher plants taxa recorded from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Campus is given. In this study, a new species is Nepenthes sharifah-hapsahii Adam and Hafiza is describe. Three other species and one hybrid found here are Nepenthes gracilis Korthals, Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, Nepenthes mirabilis (Loureiro) Druce and Nepenthes x trichocarpa Miquel. Nepenthes sharifah-hapsahii is closely related to Nepenthes gracilis but differ in having cylindrical upper stem, lamina base attenuate into petiole like region and not wing, lower lid surface densely covered with nectar glands, digestive glands on inner cavity covered by extended epidermal roof, peristome ribs distinct and pedicels commonly 2-flowered. On the other hand Nepenthes gracilis has angular upper stem, sessile leaves, lamina base decurrent, wings extends almost into one internode, lower lid surface sparsely covered with nectar glands, digestive glands exposed and epidermal roof poorly developed, persitome rib not distinct and pedicels all 1-flowered. Nepenthes ampullaria differs from the other taxa in having lower pitcher which is urceolate in shape, inner pitcher cavity wholly covered with digestive glands, lower lid surface not covered by nectar glands, paniculate inflorescence and pedicels commonly with 3-flowered and subtended by bract. Nepenthes mirabilis can be recognized and differentiated from the other species in having broad and flattened peristome and fimbriate leaves margin.